Highlights of St. William’s Catholic Church Hurry Hurry Come For Curry

As announced by the Administrator of the Diocese, from 1st September 2009, the Parish Priest of Tortola will be Father Walter Michael Mendonça.  Born in Mangalore, India on 8th September, 1946, he joined the Divine Word Missionaries in 1961 and was ordained priest on 13th May, 1976. He has experience in several areas of priestly ministry.

Starting work in the training of young candidates for the priesthood, he assumed more responsibility for their training as Prefect of Student seminarians, and then as Rector of the minor seminary.

Subsequently, he worked for three years in the Mission area in North India and for eight years in Mumbai (two years as assistant parish priest and then six years as Parish Priest.)

He came to the Caribbean in 2004, serving for one year in St.Kitts/Nevis, and then, during the last four years as parish priest in Morant Bay, Jamaica.

We welcome Fr. Walter to the Parish and wish him a pleasant stay and a fruitful ministry among us.  He will be in Tortola for the first Saturday/Sunday in September.

To be held on Saturday 5th September 2009.

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Please donate any items to aid the Catechetical Programmes & Youth Work in the Parish

The summer programme for the youth of our parish (seven years of age and above) began on 20th August 2009.  It is run by Michelle Celestine and her two cousins.  The programme offers drama, liturgical art and activities that are connected with our Catholic faith, customs and traditions.  We are grateful to Michelle Celestine and hour cousins who have made this programme possible.  The programme continues this week as well and will conclude on Friday 31st July 2009.

We are glad that Fr. Jan Pastuszczak is once again with us ministering in Virgin Gorda.  He will be in the Territory until the end of August.  We wish him a pleasant stay and fruitful ministry.

Due to the festival, there will be several public holidays.  During that week, the Church offices will be closed during those days and there will be no evening Masses during that week.  However, there will be Mass on First Friday, 7th August at 5.30 p.m.

Having spoken with several parishioners concerning the idea of forming a Men’s Fellowship Committee for this Church, I now invite all to whom I have spoken and any other adult males, who may be interested, to a meeting at the Parish Office immediately after the 9 a.m. Mass in Toad Town on Sunday, 9th August 2009

(Lionel Barker on behalf of the Knights’ Committee)

In August this year it will be 20 years since the dedication of St. Ursula’s Church in Virgin Gorda.  The Parish hopes to mark the occasion with a fitting celebration.  Details will be announced later.

Meeting of the Parish Council is scheduled for 9th August 2009 at St. William’s in Road Town at 4 p.m.

The General Instruction to the Roman Missal # 82 (English Translation approved 2003) states:

The Rite of Peace follows, by which the Church asks for peace and unity for herself and for the whole human family, and the faithful express to each other their ecclesial communion and mutual charity before communicating in the Sacrament.

As for the sign of peace to be given, the manner is to be established by Conferences of Bishops in accordance with the culture and customs of the peoples. It is, however, appropriate that each person offer the sign of peace only to those who are nearest and in a sober manner.

In accordance with this, considering the present conditions the Administrator of the Diocese,  who is well aware of the culture and customs of the Caribbean, has advised on 2nd June 2009, in regard to the sign of peace:

“In light of what is now a universal call to take precautionary measures to reduce or eliminate the possibility of the spread of the H1N1 virus (which is the cause of the Swine Flu), as a temporary measure to address the situation, I advise the following to be observed in the Diocese of St. John’s-Basseterre effective 28 June, 2009.

1. That Holy Communion be distributed only under the species of the consecrated Bread;
2. That the holding of hands during the praying of the ‘Our Father” should be discontinued; and
3. That at the Sign of Peace instead of shaking hands, kissing or embracing, you are encouraged to nod your head to the person whom the Sign of Peace is being offered.

It is our responsibility to take seriously the advice of the health authorities in an effort to prevent the spread of the disease. I solicit the co-operation of all.